Re: [Harp-L] recommendations for an all in one effects unit

[Mike Fugazzi <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx>]

Low and behold, I've owned a VHT too.  I have a pretty strong opinion on
this too, but if I am going to have to mic a small amp to hear it, and I am
getting a small amp because of portability, size, and cost, I'd go with a
pedal board in lieu of an amp.  I did this all already...I played with a
VHT miked and a M13.

http://youtu.be/CF-yMpwcFiw

http://youtu.be/XPR71UXegKU (not me singing)

Bottom line was I still needed a vocal monitor, still used a pedal board,
and then had to lug the amp, mic, and stand.

In theory, you can get a DT, Richard's patches, and a keyboard amp to run
the rig (see his site) and be covered nearly all the time.  Here's a clip
of a RP255 with one of his patches straight to my desktop mixer.
http://youtu.be/4IVwJmfODSU

IME, using a Fireball or maybe a SM57-ish mic work best in regards to
managing volume and feedback with a band.  Why I ultimatley, twice, moved
away form the RP stuff was due to tweakability live.  I found my Tech 21
Para DI and M9 to work better.   That is a costly rig, though.  Over the
last year or so, I've hardly gigged at all, failed to get into home
recording, and decided to put my energy into other avenues.

In doing so, I tried to unload a lot of my "extra" gear and go pretty
barebones.  While not the cheapest route, I would be content doing pickup
gigs and recording with simply the Zoom G5 as it is very easy to edit on
the fly and the layout involves less scrolling than the RP stuff.  It
covers amped tones and effects well.  That and my Ultimate 57 would allow
me to go back in time and do all the gigs I've ever done while being
content save potential feedback issues based on how loud former bands
played.

Flashing forward, I have three live projects in the mix that all came to me
at the same time.  I am insisting to myself that I have to be able to set
up and tear down quickly.  The G5 meets that criteria.  I put together a
Lone Wolf Board mostly because I got great deals on the pedals, had the
Nano already, and sold off most my old PA gear to more than fund the
purchase of a pedal or two, lol.  I am not sure if I'll use it a lot or
not.  Heck, I have a great wireless, but it is 12v and would require a
bigger board, so I am not even using that.

I have had, and will continue to have, a rig based off of "modern" gear,
but I want it to be small and easy to use LIVE.  Generally, I use my PA
when gigging, and that means I also need to have room for a mixer and light
controller.  I went through my stuff last night and was still crabby about
the space it takes up and trips needed to load in and out, lol.  I did,
though, find a way to mount the mixer to my harp stand and the light
controller to my vocal stand.


----------
Mike Fugazzi
vocals/harmonica
http://www.mikefugazzi.com
Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/MikeFugazziMusic>
YouTube <http://www.youtube.com.user/mikefugazzi>
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
<http://www.mikefugazzi.com/fr_customharmonicas.cfm>


On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 8:07 AM, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Thanks guys, that's great info.  I'll look into the digitech units based
> on your recommendations, and the availability of Richard Hunter's patches
>
> is the VHT amp a good route?  seems to be based on what I've read.
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 9:01 AM, Mike <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Digitech RP255 or RP355, Line 9 M9 or M13, and the Zoom G3 or G5 are all
>> great units.  If I use compression, I generally use a dedicated pedal, and
>> I find distortion pedals to be hard to tame live, but all of those unit
>> will give you all of those things in spades.
>>
>> Having used the RP255, M9, M13, and G5, I find the M9/M3 to be the best
>> units overall.  First and foremost, the layout and interface is WAY easy to
>> use and very easily tweaked live.  Secondly, the delays sound great and any
>> mods other than pitch shift are VERY useable live.  The mods aren't as
>> great as other manufacturers, but I had zero issues with phase, chorus,
>> rotary, and vibrato with harmonica.
>>
>> I am experimenting with using a Pedal Train Nano with my G5.  The G5
>> would work for me as a stand alone unit, including amp tones, but scrolling
>> is hard compared to the other units.  On the Nano, I currently have a Lone
>> Wolf Flat Cat and Tech 21 Para DI.  I have a HarpBreak and Delay V2 headed
>> my way and the final board will be the three LW pedals with the Break
>> acting as distortion.  I will use the delay only when I don't take the G5.
>>
>> The G5 is setup strictly for effects.  I use a 12AY7 tube as the boost
>> for my straight-to-PA tone.  If I need more, I just use the Para DI as a
>> traditional DI for tone shaping.  I will start gigging again in February
>> and am anxious to check it out.  I essentially have two small pedal boards
>> - one for blues, one for rock, and one for modern sounds.
>>
>>
>> On Tuesday, February 5, 2013 7:16:07 AM UTC-6, Eric Miller wrote:
>>
>>> As I'm building my harp arsenal, it's time for me to graduate from
>>> recycling all my guitar effects pedals and guitar amp, and purchase a
>>> dedicated rig for the harp.
>>>
>>> for the amp, I'm considering either a kalamazoo or a vht amp based on
>>> these
>>> articles <http://bluesharpamps.**blogspot.com/2008/06/best-**
>>> harp-amps.html<http://bluesharpamps.blogspot.com/2008/06/best-harp-amps.html>>
>>> by
>>> Rick Davis
>>>
>>> just curious what is considered the best All-In-One effects unit for
>>> harmonica, that sort of has all the stuff you need compression,
>>> distortion,
>>> delay, verb, etc.
>>>
>>> thanks as always
>>>
>>
>